CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: HAVE YOU FALLEN FOR HIM?

"Is Shannon Quinn’s family here?"

"I am."

"Mother and child are safe, it’s a little boy."

Simon Rhodes looked at the baby in swaddling clothes. Though not his own flesh and blood, he felt the same joy and had a look of relief in his eyes.

He took a photo of the baby and sent it as a message to Vincent Rhodes.

A few hours later, Shannon Quinn was transferred to the ward.

Compared to the other women who had given birth, Shannon Quinn seemed rather forlorn.

Other women had their families bustling around them, whereas she was all alone, and the ward was cold and quiet.

Shannon Quinn lay in the hospital bed, watching her sleeping baby, so small, soft, and rosy.

Life indeed felt miraculous as she looked at her child, and she couldn’t help but think of Vincent Rhodes.

She didn’t want to hold grudges anymore. After all, he hadn’t really wronged her. They got divorced, and from now on, she just wanted to live well with her child and stay away from all the drama.

Hearing noises and footsteps at the door, Shannon Quinn slowly turned her head.

"Big brother."

Simon Rhodes smiled, glanced at the baby, and said with affection, "You’ve never seen photos of Vincent when he was young. They look exactly the same."

Mentioning Vincent Rhodes, the smile on Shannon Quinn’s face froze. She lowered her eyes and smiled without speaking.

"You’ve had a tough time, Shannon. It’s hard on Vincent not being able to be with you during this time."

"Let’s not talk about this, big brother... Maybe it’s the last time I’ll call you that. When will the divorce between Vincent and I be finalized?"

Simon Rhodes tugged at the document in his hands, too reluctant to bring up the matter and advised, "Shannon, have you thought it over?"

"I’ve thought it through very clearly during this time. There’s no need to drag it out any longer."

"What are your plans after this?"

Shannon Quinn glanced down at the baby and said softly, "As long as the child grows up healthy and strong."

Simon Rhodes paused for a moment and asked, "If Vincent comes back, would you come back with the child? Would you consider remarrying?"

Though Shannon Quinn thought it was impossible, she didn’t want to speak too definitively at this moment. Considering Simon Rhodes was thinking for her and the child, she simply replied, "Nobody knows what the future holds."

She actually had no plans for remarriage.

She felt that finally freeing herself from this marriage came with great difficulty. She feared she wouldn’t want to drag herself and her child back into the mire.

Moreover, emotions are fleeting, everything changes with time. Vincent Rhodes might seem unwilling to part with her now, but after three to five years, when someone new appears in his life, as feelings fade, the notion of remarriage would no longer arise.

If she met someone suitable herself, she might consider getting remarried.

Seeing Shannon Quinn’s resolve, Simon Rhodes sighed softly and handed her the document. "I changed the agreement as you wanted. Vincent said to keep the house for you, and if you don’t want to live in it, you can sell it."

Shannon Quinn didn’t dwell on these matters any longer. Carefully sitting up in bed, she took the pen and paper from Simon Rhodes’s hand, already bearing Vincent Rhodes’s signature.

Beside his name, Shannon Quinn penned her name, her graceful handwriting contrasting with his strong script.

At the moment the pen hit the paper, Shannon Quinn didn’t feel much relief, perhaps because Vincent Rhodes never bound her.

The marriage came in bewilderingly, and when leaving it, it didn’t stir much emotion. If it weren’t for the child, she might have thought it all a ridiculous dream.

Having signed her name, she returned the document to Simon Rhodes. As he sorted the papers, he said, "Shannon, I know you feel Vincent tricked you and played you, but I still want to speak for him. No matter what misunderstandings you have, don’t doubt his love for you. If he didn’t truly love you, he wouldn’t have married you before his discharge. When he told Grandpa he wanted to marry you, Grandpa was strongly against it, and it took a lot of persuasion to change Grandpa’s mind."

"Though it seemed as if he didn’t exist post-marriage, he was always thinking of you. Every time he contacted me, his first words were about you."

Shannon Quinn smiled slightly and rationally said, "But the life I want, he can’t give me."

Perhaps she was past the age of romantic ideals; she yearned more for a stable and practical life, especially now with a child.

Simon Rhodes sighed regretfully, "Indeed, we owe you, that’s probably why he agreed to the divorce. I don’t really know the details between you two, but since the decision is made, I won’t say more. When Vincent returns, he’ll contact you about the divorce procedures. In the meantime, I’ll arrange for Mrs. Ward to come to the hospital to take care of you in the next couple of days."

"Thank you."

"Rest well."

Three days later, Shannon Quinn was discharged from the hospital.

During her stay, everyone who should have come to see her did so, whether colleagues from work or friends in life. Even Erin Bishop, who was on a business trip abroad, bought a ticket the same day and rushed back the next day.

However, she still felt a sense of regret. Knowing full well that he wouldn’t appear, she still hoped he would come to see her, knowing such hopes would end in disappointment.

Of course, there was also good news. Catherine Yardley had found a suitable kidney donor, and the match was successful.

She found it odd that they hadn’t found a donor for so long, and yet one suddenly appeared at this critical moment. Sheila Yardley simply said vaguely that a miracle had occurred.

During the month of postpartum confinement, Erin Bishop took care of Shannon Quinn.

When the child was still in her belly, Shannon Quinn couldn’t wait to give birth. Now that the child was born, she found herself unable to get a decent night’s sleep each day, thinking it might have been better when the child was still inside.

"Shannon, maybe you should hire a postpartum nanny. Everyone else gains weight after confinement, but you look gaunt and emaciated. There’s not enough milk for the baby. Exhausting yourself like this isn’t good for you or the baby," Erin Bishop suggested over breakfast.

"I’ll get used to it gradually. I’m not working now; I’ll think about it when I start working again."

In truth, she wasn’t comfortable entrusting the child to someone unfamiliar. She’d rather endure more fatigue.

"This is just the beginning; single mothers have a tough road ahead. By the way, have you been in contact with Vincent Rhodes?"

Shannon Quinn paused her eating, and with a faint and slightly self-deprecating tone, said, "Where would I contact him?"

"He hasn’t reached out to you?"

"No, maybe it’s inconvenient for him."

"You’re finding excuses for him even though you’re getting divorced? Shannon, be honest with me." Erin Bishop’s curiosity was piqued, "Have you really, deep down, fallen for him?"